Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place.

Following a review of pupil projections for starting secondary school in Mid Sussex, and particularly in Hassocks, due to increasing pupil numbers it is necessary to provide for a bulge class of 30 pupils at Downlands School in September 2022 and September 2023, creating a total of 60 additional places. In order to accommodate this temporary increase in pupil numbers a project will be delivered to invest in teaching and non-teaching areas at the school.

Following completion of the feasibility study, a cost estimate has been provided and an allocation of S106 funding from the Capital Programme is being sought to enable the works to be taken forward. The budget will fund all associated fees and furniture and equipment.

The Assistant Director (Property and Assets) has approved the allocation of £2.3m of received S106 contributions to fund the necessary works as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report to enable the provision of two bulge classes of 30 pupils (60 in total) at Downlands Community School in Hassocks and to procure the delivery of the works in so far as required.

None